Battery pack

ABSTRACT

A battery pack includes a plurality of battery units that are side by side along a first direction, a connection member that connects the battery units in series, in parallel, or in series and parallel, the connection member being adjacent to one surface of each battery unit of the plurality of battery units, an upper cap on and accommodating the connection member, upper portions of all of the battery units being inserted into the upper cap, a lower cap that is spaced apart from the upper cap by a predetermined gap, lower portions of all of the battery units being inserted into the lower cap, and a label that at least partially surrounds the battery units exposed between the upper cap and the lower cap. The upper cap and the lower cap fix an arrangement of the battery units.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0015641, filed on Feb. 11, 2014,in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and entitled: “BatteryPack,” is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

One or more embodiments relate to a battery pack.

2. Description of the Related Art

Use of portable computers that operate based on internal power suppliedfrom batteries has dramatically increased due to the development ofwireless communication technologies such as the Internet. In general,since the portable computers are small and easy to carry, that is, havehigh mobility, the portable computers are widely used for business orpersonal purposes in various places. As the portable computers includebattery packs, they may be used irrespective of the area of use andconnection to land power sources. A battery pack may include a pluralityof battery units that may be repeatedly charged/discharged so as toprovide sufficient output.

SUMMARY

Embodiments are directed to a battery pack including a plurality ofbattery units that are side by side along a first direction, aconnection member that connects the battery units in series, inparallel, or in series and parallel, the connection member beingadjacent to one surface of each battery unit of the plurality of batteryunits, an upper cap on and accommodating the connection member, upperportions of all of the battery units being inserted into the upper cap,a lower cap that is spaced apart from the upper cap by a predeterminedgap, lower portions of all of the battery units being inserted into thelower cap, and a label that at least partially surrounds the batteryunits exposed between the upper cap and the lower cap. The upper cap andthe lower cap fix an arrangement of the battery units.

Each of the battery units may include sides that are perpendicular tothe one surface. The sides may include a pair of first sides, the firstsides of each battery unit being side by side with the first sides ofthe other battery units, and a pair of second sides that connect thepair of first sides to each other, the second sides having a smallerwidth than the first sides. The plurality of battery units may bearranged such that the second sides of adjacent battery units face eachother.

The battery pack may further include a spacer between the second sidesof adjacent battery units that face each other.

The spacer may include a first portion that insulates the second sidesof the adjacent battery units from each other and a second portion thatextends from the first portion to the connection member and supports theconnection member.

At least one of the upper cap and the lower cap may include a skirtportion that extends toward the pair of first sides. The label may beattached to the skirt portion.

The battery pack may further include an insulating film between at leastone of the pair of first sides and the label.

Each battery unit may include a can that accommodates an electrodeassembly and a cap plate that is combined with the can, the cap plateforming the one surface. Each battery unit may include an electrode pinlocated on the cap plate, the electrode pin being insulated from the capplate.

Each battery unit may include a holder on the cap plate, the holderaccommodating a temperature-sensing element connected to the electrodepin.

The connection member may be electrically connected to the electrode pinand the cap plate.

The connection member may include circuit boards and protective elementsmounted on the circuit boards.

The holder may be coupleable with the upper cap.

One of the holder and the upper cap may include a protrusion thatprotrudes in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, and theother one of the holder and the upper cap may include a hole that iscoupleable with the protrusion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features will become apparent to those of skill in the art by describingin detail exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a battery packaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view of one of a plurality ofbattery units illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view depicting a state in which batteryunits, a protective circuit module, an upper cover, and a lower coverillustrated in FIG. 1 are assembled;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a portion IV of FIG.3; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along a line V-V of FIG.3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings; however, they may be embodied indifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey exemplary implementations to those skilled in the art.

In the drawing figures, the dimensions of layers and regions may beexaggerated for clarity of illustration. Like reference numerals referto like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack according to anembodiment, FIG. 2 is an perspective view of one of a plurality ofbattery units and a holder illustrated in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is aperspective view illustrating a state in which a plurality of batteryunits 100, a protective circuit module 200, an upper cover 400, and alower cover 500 are assembled. In FIG. 3, a label 600 and an insulatingfilm 700 are omitted in FIG. 3 for convenience of explanation.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, the battery pack according to thecurrent embodiment may include the plurality of battery units 100, theprotective circuit module 200, which is electrically connected to eachof the plurality of battery units 100, a spacer 300 that electricallyinsulates the battery units 100 from each other, the upper cover 400,the lower cover 500, the label 600, and the insulating film 700.

The plurality of battery units 100 may be disposed side by side along afirst direction (x-direction). For example, the plurality of batteryunits 100 may be disposed side by side so that their top surfaces are inthe same direction. Sides of adjacent battery units 100 may face eachother. Each of the battery units 100 may be a lithium-ion battery, thatis, a secondary battery that may be recharged.

Referring to FIG. 2, each of the battery units 100 may include a barecell B and a holder 140 fixed to an upper portion of the bare cell B.

The bare cell B may include a can 110 having an opening formed therein,an electrode assembly 104 accommodated in the can 110 through theopening, a cap plate 120 that seals the opening of the can 110, and anelectrode pin 122 formed on the cap plate 120.

The can 110 may have an opened, approximately hexahedral top surface andmay be manufactured of a metallic material so as have a suitableresistance. For example, the can 110 may be manufactured of aluminum(Al) or an Al alloy. After the electrode assembly 104 is inserted intothe can 110 through the opening, the opening may be sealed by the capplate 120. Like the can 110, the cap plate 120 may be manufactured of ametallic material, such as aluminum or an Al alloy. Portions at whichthe cap plate 120 and the can 110 contact each other may be combinedwith each other through laser welding so that an internal air-tightstate of the bare cell B may be maintained.

The electrode assembly 104 may include a first electrode plate 101 and asecond electrode plate 102 onto which an electrode active material iscoated, and a separator 103 interposed therebetween. The first electrodeplate 101 and the second electrode plate 102 may have differentpolarities. The electrode assembly 104 may be manufactured in such a waythat the first electrode plate 101, the separator 103, and the secondelectrode plate 102 may be sequentially stacked on the electrodeassembly 104 and then be wound in a jelly roll shape. In otherimplementations, the electrode assembly 104 may be a stack structurewhere the first electrode plate 101, the separator 103, and the secondelectrode plate 102 are sequentially stacked.

The electrode pin 122 may be formed on the cap plate 120. The firstelectrode plate 101 may be electrically connected to the cap plate 120,and the second electrode plate 102 may be electrically connected to theelectrode pin 122. The first electrode plate 101 and the secondelectrode plate 102 may have different polarities. Accordingly, theelectrode pin 122 and the cap plate 120 may have different polarities.For example, the electrode pin 122 may have a negative electrodepolarity, and the cap plate 120 may have a positive electrode polarity.A gasket 125 may be provided between the electrode pin 122 and the capplate 120 so as to prevent a short circuit between the electrode pin 122and the cap plate 120. The gasket 125 may be manufactured of aninsulating material and may prevent an electrical short circuit betweenthe electrode pin 122 and the cap plate 120.

The battery unit 100 may include first and second electrode tabs 131 and132. The first and second electrode tabs 131 and 132 may serve as apositive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of asecondary battery.

For example, the first electrode tab 131 may be disposed on the capplate 120 and may be electrically connected to the cap plate 120. Whenthe cap plate 120 has a positive electrode polarity, the first electrodetab 131 welded onto the cap plate 120 may also have a positive electrodepolarity.

The second electrode tab 132 may be connected to the electrode pin 122and a temperature-sensing element, such as a temperature cutoff (TCO).For example, the second electrode tab 132 may include a first portion132 a and a second portion 132 b. One end of the first portion 132 a maybe connected to the electrode pin 122, and the other end of the firstportion 132 a may be connected to the temperature-sensing element. Oneend of the second portion 132 b may be connected to thetemperature-sensing element so that the second electrode tab 132including the temperature-sensing element may be electrically connectedto the electrode pin 122.

The first and second electrode tabs 131 and 132 may be disposed on thecap plate 120. Since the cap plate 120 has a positive electrodepolarity, as described above, an electrical short circuit between thecap plate 120 and the second electrode tab 132 having a negativeelectrode polarity could occur easily. Thus, the second electrode tab132 may be disposed on the holder 140 put on the cap plate 120.

The holder 140 may accommodate the second electrode tab 132 and thetemperature-sensing element. The holder 140 may include an opening opformed in a position corresponding to a position of thetemperature-sensing element so as to sensitively react to a change intemperature of the battery unit 100.

The holder 140 may be fixed onto the battery unit 100 using a fixingmember, such as a tape 150, while accommodating the second electrode tab132 and the temperature-sensing element.

The holder 140 may include a protrusion 145. The protrusion 145 mayextend and protrude from the holder 140 along a thickness direction(y-direction) of the battery unit 100 and may be combined with a hole405 formed in the upper cover 400 that will be described below. Forexample, the protrusion 145 of the holder 140 may be combined with thehole 405 of the upper cover 400 through interference fit.

In the current embodiment, the protrusion 145 is formed on the holder140, and the hole 405 is formed in the upper cover 400. In otherimplementations, a hole may be formed in the holder 140, and aprotrusion may be formed on the upper cover 400 so that the protrusionand the hole may be combined with each other through an interferencefit. Considering the overall thickness of the battery pack, for example,the protrusion 145 may be formed on the holder 140 and the hole 405 maybe formed in the upper cover 400, such that the thickness of the batterypack may be reduced.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 through 3, the protective circuit module 200may be disposed on a top surface of each battery unit 100, for example,on the cap plate 120, and may be electrically connected to the batteryunit 100 such that charging/discharging of the battery unit 100 may becontrolled. The protective circuit module 200 may prevent overheatingand explosion that occur due to overcharging, overdischarging, orovercurrent of the battery unit 100.

The protective circuit module 200 may include circuit boards 210,protective elements 220 mounted on the circuit boards 210, and externalterminals 230. The circuit boards 210 may extend long along anarrangement direction of the plurality of battery units 100. Theprotective elements 220 may be one selected from the group of safetyelements including passive elements, such as resistors and capacitors ofthe circuit boards 210, or active elements, such as field effecttransistors (FETs), or integrated circuits (ICs).

Each of the circuit boards 210 may include a connection hole 241. Thefirst and second electrode tabs 131 and 132 provided on each of thebattery units 100 may be inserted into the connection hole 241 formed ineach circuit board 210. The first and second electrode tabs 131, 132 andthe respective circuit board 210 may be soldered together. Patternsthrough which the battery units 100 may be connected in series and/or inparallel, may be formed on the circuit board 210. The first and secondelectrode tabs 131 and 132 of each battery unit 100 may be directlyconnected to the connection hole 241 formed in the circuit board 210such that the plurality of battery units 100 may becharge/discharge-controlled according to driving of the protectiveelement 220 and simultaneously may be connected in series and/or inparallel.

The spacer 300 may be interposed between adjacent battery units 100. Oneend of the spacer 300 may extend toward the protective circuit module200 so as to support the protective circuit module 200. For example, thespacer 300 may include a first portion 310 interposed between theadjacent battery units 100, and a second portion 320 that extends fromthe first portion 310 to the protective circuit module 200.

The first portion 310 of the spacer 300 may electrically insulate theadjacent battery units 100 from each other. As described above withreference to FIG. 2, the can 110 and the cap plate 120 of the batteryunit 100 may be manufactured of a metallic material, and the can 110 maybe welded to the cap plate 120 such that the can 110 may have the samepolarity as that of the cap plate 120. When the battery units 100 aredisposed side by side, as illustrated in FIG. 1, an undesired electricalconnection between the adjacent battery units 100 could be formed.According to an embodiment, the first portion 310 of the spacer 300 maybe interposed between the adjacent battery units 100. Accordingly, anundesired electrical connection between the adjacent battery units 100may be prevented.

The second portion 320 of the spacer 300 may be interposed in a space(or a gap) between the protective circuit module 200 and the batteryunit 100 and may support the protective circuit module 200. The batteryunit 100 may include the electrode pin 122 that protrudes upward and theholder 140 may be interposed on the battery unit 100. Accordingly, aspace may be formed between the top surface of the battery unit 100 anda bottom surface of the protective circuit module 200. When the secondportion 320 of the spacer 300 is interposed in the space, the protectivecircuit module 200 may be supported and simultaneously may be protectedfrom an external force applied to the protective circuit module 200.

The upper cover 400 may be disposed on the protective circuit module200. The upper cover 400 may include an opening 410 through which theexternal terminal 230 formed on the protective circuit module 200 isexposed.

The upper cover 400 may have a length that is substantially the same asthe entire length of the plurality of battery units 100 disposed side byside along the first direction. The upper cover 400 may be combined withthe battery units 100 such that the protective circuit module 200 may beinterposed between the battery units 100. For example, the upper cover400 and the holder 140 provided at each of the battery units 100 may becombined with each other through an interference fit, as describedabove.

The lower cover 500 may be disposed at an opposite side to a side atwhich the upper cover 400 is disposed, so as to face the upper cover400. The upper cover 400 may be disposed to cover the top surface ofeach battery unit 100, with the protective circuit module 200 beinginterposed between the battery units 100. The lower cover 500 may bedisposed to cover the bottom surface of each battery unit 100.

The label 600 may be disposed to surround sides of each battery unit100. For example, the label 600 may be attached to the sides of thebattery unit 100. An insulating film 700 may be interposed between thelabel 600 and the sides of the battery unit 100.

Portions of the label 600 may be attached to the upper cover 400 and thelower cover 500. To this end, skirt portions 420 and 520 may be providedat the upper cover 400 and the lower cover 500 and may extend toward thebattery unit 100. The portions of the label 600 may be attached onto theskirt portions 420 and 520 such that the upper cover 400, the lowercover 500, and the label 600 may be insulated from the battery unit 100and simultaneously, such that the battery unit 100 may be prevented frombeing exposed to the outside.

Hereinafter, a combination of the upper cover 400 and the battery unit100, for example, a combination of the upper cover 400 and the holder140 of the battery unit 100 will be descried with reference to FIGS. 4and 5.

FIG. 4 is an partial exploded perspective view of a portion IV of FIG.3, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line V-V of FIG.3.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the protective circuit module 200 may bedisposed on the battery unit 100, and the upper cover 400 may bedisposed on the protective circuit module 200. The protective circuitmodule 200 may be placed on the cap plate 120 on which the electrode pin122 is formed. The first and second electrode tabs 131 and 132 includedin each battery unit 100 may be inserted into the connection holes 241formed in the protective circuit module 200 and then the first andsecond electrode tabs 131 and 132 and the protective circuit module maybe soldered together., Thus, the first and second electrode tabs 131 and132 may be electrically connected to the protective circuit module 200.

The upper cover 400 may be combined with the battery unit 100 such thatthe protective circuit module 200 is interposed between the battery unit100 and the upper cover 400. For example, the upper cover 400 mayinclude the hole 405, and the holder 140 of the battery unit 100 mayinclude the protrusion 145. The protrusion 145 may be combined with thehole 405 through an interference fit such that the upper cover 400 andthe holder 140 are combined with each other. The protrusion 145 mayextend and protrude from the battery unit 100 along the thicknessdirection (y-direction) of the battery unit 100 and thus may becombinable with the hole 405 of the upper cover 400.

As described above, according to the one or more of the aboveembodiments provide a compact battery pack having improved assemblingcharacteristics may be provided.

Example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specificterms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for purpose of limitation.Accordingly, it will be understood by those of skill in the art thatvarious changes in form and details may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope as set forth in the following claims.

1. A battery pack, comprising: a plurality of battery units that areside by side along a first direction; a connection member that connectsthe battery units in series, in parallel, or in series and parallel, theconnection member being adjacent to one surface of each battery unit ofthe plurality of battery units; an upper cap located on andaccommodating the connection member, upper portions of all of thebattery units being inserted into the upper cap; a lower cap that isindependent from and spaced apart from the upper cap by a predeterminedgap such that the upper cap and the lower cap do not contact each other,lower portions of all of the battery units being inserted into the lowercap; a label that at least partially surrounds the battery units exposedbetween the upper cap and the lower cap, and an insulator betweenadjacent battery units that face each other, wherein the upper cap andthe lower cap fix an arrangement of the battery units.
 2. The batterypack of claim 1, wherein: each of the battery units includes sides thatare perpendicular to the one surface, the sides include a pair of firstsides, the first sides of each battery unit being side by side with thefirst sides of all other battery units, and a pair of second sides thatconnect the pair of first sides to each other, the second sides having asmaller width than the first sides, and the plurality of battery unitsare arranged such that the second sides of each of adjacent batteryunits face each other.
 3. The battery pack of claim 2, furthercomprising a spacer between the second sides of adjacent battery unitsthat face each other, the spacer including the insulator.
 4. The batterypack of claim 3, wherein the spacer includes a first portion thatinsulates the second sides of the adjacent battery units from each otherand a second portion that extends from the first portion to theconnection member and supports the connection member, wherein the firstportion is the insulator.
 5. The battery pack of claim 2, wherein atleast one of the upper cap and the lower cap includes a skirt portionthat extends toward the pair of first sides, and the label is attachedto the skirt portion.
 6. The battery pack of claim 5, further comprisingan insulating film between at least one of the pair of first sides andthe label.
 7. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein: each battery unitincludes a can that accommodates an electrode assembly, a cap plate thatis combined with the can, the cap plate forming the one surface, and afirst electrode tab connected to the cap plate, and each battery unitincludes an electrode pin located on the cap plate, the electrode pinbeing insulated from the cap plate.
 8. The battery pack of claim 7,wherein each battery unit includes a holder on the cap plate, the holderaccommodating a temperature-sensing element and a second electrode tabconnected to the electrode pin, the holder being attached to the capplate by a tape that extends over the holder and attaches to oppositesides of the battery unit.
 9. The battery pack of claim 8, wherein theconnection member is electrically connected to the electrode pin by wayof the second electrode tab and is electrically connected to the capplate by way of the first electrode tab.
 10. The battery pack of claim9, wherein the connection member includes circuit boards and protectiveelements mounted on the circuit boards.
 11. The battery pack of claim 8,wherein the holder is coupleable with the upper cap.
 12. The batterypack of claim 11, wherein one of the holder and the upper cap includes aprotrusion that protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the firstdirection, and the other one of the holder and the upper cap includes ahole that is coupleable with the protrusion.
 13. A battery pack,comprising: a plurality of battery units that are side by side along afirst direction; a connection member that connects the battery units inseries, in parallel, or in series and parallel, the connection memberbeing adjacent to one surface of each battery unit of the plurality ofbattery units; an upper cap located on and accommodating the connectionmember, upper portions of all of the battery units being inserted intothe upper cap; a lower cap that is independent from and spaced apartfrom the upper cap by a predetermined gap such that the upper cap andthe lower cap do not contact each other, lower portions of all of thebattery units being inserted into the lower cap; a spacer between sidesof adjacent battery units that face each other, wherein the spacerincludes a first portion that insulates the sides of the adjacentbattery units that face each other from each other and a second portionthat extends from the first portion to the connection member andsupports the connection member; and a label that at least partiallysurrounds the battery units exposed between the upper cap and the lowercap, wherein the upper cap and the lower cap fix an arrangement of thebattery units.
 14. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein: each of thebattery units includes outer sides that are perpendicular to the onesurface, the outer sides include a pair of first sides which areparallel each other, and a pair of second sides that connect the pair offirst sides to each other, and the outer sides formed of materialincluding metal, the plurality of battery units are arranged such thatthe second sides of each of adjacent battery units face each other, andthe insulator contacts at least one of the second sides of the adjacentbattery units facing each other.
 15. The battery pack of claim 1,wherein the plurality of battery units comprises at least three batteryunits that are side by side along a first direction.
 16. The batterypack of claim 15, wherein: the at least three battery units comprises afirst battery unit and a second battery unit which are respectivelydisposed in the leftmost end and rightmost end of the plurality ofbattery units, a third battery unit between the first and second batteryunits comprises a pair of first sides which are parallel each other, anda pair of second sides that connect the pair of first sides and areparallel each other, the second sides of the third battery unit contactsthe insulator, and that first sides of the third battery unit arecovered with the label.